Foothill palo verde, Small-leaved palo verde
Cercidium microphyllum

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It is upright and branches often. It grows about 5 m tall. The leaves are yellowish-green. Leaves can be shed in hot dry periods. The bark is green and can use sunlight for photosynthesis. The flowers are at the end of the branches. The fruit are soft pods 4-8 cm long. They are depressed between the seeds.

Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in the Sonoran Desert.

Countries/locations it is found in

Mexico (country/location of origin), North America, USA

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten fresh or ground and mixed with mesquite meal. The young pods are boiled with meat. The flowers are also eaten.

Edible parts

Seeds, pods, flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. Seedlings need water for the first 2-3 months.

It is slow growing. Trees can live for several hundred years.

Its other names

Local names

Yellow paloverde, Ziipxol

Synonyms

Cercidiopsis microphylla (Torr.) Britton & Rose; Parkinsonia microphyllum Torr.;